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It’s that time of the year again. The holiday season is approaching rapidly and it’s about time to start contemplating what gifts to get your loved ones. Perhaps you have a tech-savvy, smartphone-obsessed brother, or a father-in-law who is consistently less than impressed by your gift giving, regardless of how much time and effort you put into it.

Well, fear no more. Here are four new shiny gadgets that will warm the hearts of techies faster than you can say mistletoe. The best part is they not only look cool, but these gadgets also have a much higher utility factor than that 6-pack of argyle socks your aunt still thinks are in style.

Republic Wireless - Unlimited Talk, Text and Data For $19 a Month

Imagine a world where unlimited talk time, text and data is at your fingertips for a mere 19 dollars per month. There are no contracts to sign, no lengthy lock-in periods, and no international roaming fees. It may seem too good to be true, but Republic Wireless has made our mobile dream world a reality.

The offer is pretty straight forward: pay $199 up front as a one-time fee and you get an Android based LG Optimus smartphone in return. You are then required to pay a monthly flat fee of $19 for the service. The beauty of the Republic Wireless service is that it leverages WiFi to connect your calls, send texts and browse the web.

The concept is called “Hybrid Calling”, because if you’re not connected to a Wi-Fi, the call will instead be routed over Sprint’s network, Republic’s carrier partner. According to the company, most of us are within close proximity to a Wi-Fi network 60 percent of the time, and that percentage is only going to grow as Wi-Fi continues to become a global phenomenon.

So, how has it been received? Well, the company’s site collapsed when the service was announced in early November due to the extremely high demand for initial orders. Safe to say, if you want one of these for Christmas, don’t sleep on it.

In the beautiful world of technology, we often play out the “what if”-scenario in our minds (at least I do). Examples of such scenarios could be: What if the iPod Touch supported calling and SMS? What if I could use data on my iPad without having to sign up for yet another contract? And lastly, what if the iPhone supported dual SIMs so I’m no longer forced to travel with two phones?

Enter Gmate. It’s a small, nifty little device from a company called Skyroam and its release has made all those ‘what ifs’ a reality.

Gmate allows Apple users to use Bluetooth technology to sync their devices so that all the features of one device can be combined with the features of another. Your iPod Touch suddenly becomes a slimmed down, more affordable version of an iPhone, allowing you to make and receive calls and texts, as well as check your email wherever and whenever. Other perks of the Gmate include the ability to bypass expensive upgrades like the iPad 3G, and provides a dual-SIM feature for the iPhone that allows frequent travelers to circumvent today’s gushing roaming charges.

So how much will this handy device set you back? The Gmate currently runs for about 100 bucks, and includes international shipping and handling, as well as a one-year warranty. There’s no doubt Gmate is a safe (and affordable) bet to find under this year’s Christmas tree.

Nest - The World’s Smartest Thermostat That Saves You Money

I fully admit that a thermostat might not be the first gadget (if you can even call it a gadget) that springs to mind when pondering what to get that techie cousin of yours for Christmas. However, Nest isn’t your regular thermostat.

Tony Fadell might not be a name that sounds familiar to you, but the products he creates are likely to ring a bell. Fadell is the former chief architect at Apple. While there, he spearheaded the development of the 18 generations of the iPod and the first three iPhone models.

Not only does the Nest thermostat boast a drop-dead gorgeous design, but it will also save you roughly 20-30% percent in energy consumption. What’s so special about it is that it can actually memorize the behavior of your household in regards to energy consumption. After a simple setup process, installation and hanging on your wall for about a week, it will automatically program itself to heat or cool your home at settings that are considerably more energy-efficient than your current or previous system.

It also comes equipped with a clever motion sensor that allows Nest to recognize when you and your family are out of the house. In which instance, it will automatically turn the temperature down to lower your energy bill and save you money. Additionally, thanks to its Wi-Fi capability, you can control it remotely and set the temperature yourself from your iPhone, iPad or computer.

Nest retails at $249, but according to the company’s website, it’s sold out through early next year. In other words, you can still get it, but you’ll probably have to wait along with other gadget lovers before unlocking your smart homes’ true potential.

Xcom Global MiFi Rentals - Stay Connected Abroad

We’ve all felt the frustration of going abroad, for business or for pleasure, and not being able to check email, update Facebook or make VoIP calls with Rebtel or Skype due to one of the ugliest phenomenons in telecom: roaming.

Roaming is the arch nemesis of the connected man (or women) in the digital age of the 21st century. Luckily, there are companies out there trying to mitigate this pain point, and Xcom Global is one of them.

In essence, the company offers a rental service of MiFi devices. A MiFi is a small gadget, roughly the size of a credit card, which fits perfectly in your pocket or bag. The setup is quite simple. You press the power button and a few seconds later, you’ll be connected to a local mobile network delivering you all-you-can-eat mobile data over Wi-Fi.

You can have up to five of your devices simultaneously connected to one Xcom’s MiFi device, and renting it only costs $17.95 per day. The chances of it not working are slim, as the company covers 67 countries, which, according Xcom, accounts for 88.7% of the usual US traveler destinations.

So if you have a frequently traveling father-in-law, renting him an Xcom MiFi could save him a ton of money, and just might be the best way yet to put you in his good graces.